NEWS BRIEFS

PSU Twitter followers unite: To encourage campus involvement, Portland State is urging its Facebook and Twitter fans to attend its first ever “Tweetup” this afternoon in Parkway North.

PSU Twitter followers unite

To encourage campus involvement, Portland State is urging its Facebook and Twitter fans to attend its first ever “Tweetup” this afternoon in Parkway North.

“We are organizing Portland State’s very first Tweetup, a social media event that will bring all of PSU’s social media fans as well as students, alumni, staff and friends together and give them the opportunity to meet in real life,” Christian Aniciete, social media specialist for PSU, said.

Those who attend the meet-and-greet will have the chance listen to music, play bingo and win raffle prizes, including an iPad 2.

University Communications, the University Market Student Store and Coca Cola will host the event. It will take place today in Smith Memorial Student Union’s Parkway North from 3 to 6 p.m.

Corie Charnley

PSU’s annual Senior Gift Campaign seeks to provide tuition for future students

Paying for college is anything but cheap, but fortunately Portland State’s Senior Gift Campaign is working to raise money for future students’ tuition.

By promoting a donation of $20.11 (the price changes in cents to represent each year) the campaign asks graduating seniors to commit to the one-time gift that goes back into the Annual Gift Giving Fund that has helped to fund their education.

“We know that soon-to-be graduates don’t have hundreds of dollars to give away, but we also know that our students value the education they’ve received at Portland State,” PSU’s Development Assistant Denise Harrison said.

 Understanding the importance of helping to fill the need in the financial gap for students is emphasized throughout this campaign. According to Harrison, every small gift makes an impact on future students. There are over 5,000 graduating seniors in this academic year, and if every one of them donates the set amount of  $20.11, Harrison said the class of 2011 would raise $100,550 for future PSU students.

“In a time where we expect up to a 24 percent cut in higher education from the state’s budget, we rely more on individuals to give back what they can, to ensure higher education is accessible for all students,” Harrison said.

The campaign will take place during the last few weeks of May. Current students will place a call to the seniors and graduate students, asking for a contribution to the Annual Gift Giving Fund.

For more information, students can reach Melinda Peterson at 503-725-8212. 

Christina J. Maggio

Senate passes tuition equity bill, UO backs down on request for OUS independence

Senate Bill 742, which would grant in-state tuition to Oregon’s undocumented students, passed through the Senate last Tuesday with an 18-11 vote, according to The Oregonian.

In addition, University of Oregon President Richard Lariviere announced last week that UO would wait until 2012 to ask Legislature for its own institutional governing board and use of $800 million in bonding so that it could opt out of the state appropriations process.

Corie Charnley

Pre-Health and Volunteer Fair to be held this Thursday in SMSU

The 6th Annual Pre-Health and Volunteer Fair, one of the largest in the region, will take place this Thursday in the Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Over 60 admissions directors from around the United States will be present at the fair to answer questions about various health-related educational programs, according to a press release.

In addition, there will be over $5,000 in prizes to give away, as well as several workshops held after the fair from 2 to 4 p.m. The workshops, which are led by representatives from Oregon Health and Science University and The Princeton Review, will provide students with important information about the filling out applications to medical, dental or pharmacy schools.

Corie Charnley

University administration requests student feedback

In order to improve campus policies, curriculum and resources, Portland State President Wim Wiewel is requesting that students fill out the National Survey of Student Engagement survey detailing their experience at PSU.

According to a press release, survey participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of five $50 PSU Bookstore gift certificates.

To fill out the survey, visit https://www.nssesurvey.org/?id=D6A649FCAB.

Corie Charnley